Italian Cheese Rolling Championship

A quarter-century of national challenges

On Saturday, April 11th and Sunday, April 12th, 2026, Pontelandolfo—a town of just under two thousand inhabitants at 510 meters above sea level in the province of Benevento (Campania)—hosted the 25th edition of the Italian Cheese Rolling Championship in the individual category. Organizers called it a "prestigious milestone, a quarter of a century." The national title for this discipline changes location every year, and in 2026, it arrived in one of the towns where cheese rolling is not just a federal competition, but a way of life passed down through generations.

The event was born from the collaboration between the A.S.D. Ruzzola del Formaggio Pontelandolfo and the Municipal Administration, with the stated goal of promoting local identity and regional excellence. The sport is regulated by FIGeST, the Italian Federation of Traditional Games and Sports. In presenting the event, the association issued a direct invitation to local entities, noting that "your participation is essential."

How the cheese rolling works

According to the FIGeST technical guidelines, each match consists of throwing the cheese wheel as far as possible within a set number of attempts. The playing field is "generally a country road or dirt track," not a stadium. Before the throw, the player wraps a string or ribbon around the wheel, which, upon release, creates the rotation that allows the cheese wheel to roll long distances.

• It is played individually, in pairs, or in teams: in Pontelandolfo, the 2026 championship was for individuals.
• The races are divided into five weight categories, from light wheels to those weighing over twenty-five kilograms.
• Within each category, "identical wheels must be chosen and swapped after each game" to ensure equal conditions.
• The origins of the practice are ancient: the federation traces them back to the Etruscan era.

Beyond the Sannio region, the discipline remains alive in the Garfagnana and the upper Parma areas: each season, the federal circuit meets in a different town across Italy.

The 'ruzzola', a root of Pontelandolfo's identity

In Pontelandolfo, cheese rolling is called ruzzola, and its popular event is the Carnival, which is distinct from the national championship. The historic route crosses the town center: it starts at Piazza Roma, "sott'à la tèglia," next to the fountain, climbs toward the Church of San Rocco, and returns along what are known in the local dialect as a via r' còppa on the way out and a vìa r' sotta on the way back. Teams of two, four, or six players compete with wheels weighing between five and eighteen kilograms: the point reached at each throw is marked, and the winner is the one who completes the course with the fewest throws, taking home the cheese wheel used for the game.

History and legend coexist regarding the origin of the game. Some scholars believe the ruzzola arrived here around 1300 with populations fleeing a violent plague from the Ciociaria region, and it is no coincidence that similar traditions still survive in lower Lazio and Umbria. Oral tradition, however, tells of a gentleman and his farmer, Pasquale, who, in a dispute over grazing rights, decided to settle the matter with cheese wheels: a challenge that, according to legend, never ended.

Two days of competition and a farmers' market

The 2026 format combined the competitive aspect with gastronomy: the Campagna Amica market was present on both Saturday and Sunday, offering the opportunity to "combine traditional sport with the culture of healthy, zero-kilometer food." In their summary, the organizers described "an extraordinary day, rich in tradition, enthusiasm, and a spirit of sharing, where cheese was the absolute protagonist," emphasizing that Campagna Amica "represented the territory at its best, bringing quality, passion, and the value of the short supply chain" to numerous visitors.

Why it's worth the trip

The Italian Cheese Rolling Championship is not a spectacular event in the commercial sense: it is a test of precision and power held on the road, followed by walking among groups of spectators who debate the trajectory of the last throw. For those visiting the Municipality of Pontelandolfo, it is the most direct way to understand the Upper Sannio: a stone village, the inland Campania of valleys and pastures, a small community that has chosen to share itself through its most ancient game.